US Blocks Maduro’s Legal Funding as Former Venezuelan President Faces Federal Charges

The Trump administration has moved to prevent the Venezuelan government from covering the legal expenses of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is currently facing federal drug trafficking and weapons charges in New York, according to a court filing from his attorney.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty in federal court in New York on January 5 to multiple charges, following their capture by American forces at the presidential palace in Venezuela just two days earlier.

In a letter addressed to U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein of the Southern District of New York, Maduro’s lawyer Barry Pollack stated that the U.S. government is actively preventing the Venezuelan government from paying his client’s legal fees, creating a significant barrier to his defense.

“The government of Venezuela has an obligation to pay Mr. Maduro’s fees. Mr. Maduro has a legitimate expectation that the government of Venezuela would do so, and Mr. Maduro cannot otherwise afford counsel,” Pollack wrote in the February 20 letter.

Pollack argued that under “Venezuelan law and custom, the government of Venezuela pays the expenses of the President and First Lady.” However, due to sanctions imposed by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Maduro’s legal team requires special licenses to represent him and receive payment.

While OFAC initially granted licenses for both Maduro and Flores on January 9, Maduro’s license was subsequently amended “without explanation” to specifically prohibit the Venezuelan government from covering his defense costs. Notably, Flores’ license remained unaffected by this change.

This financial restriction represents a significant obstacle in Maduro’s legal defense. Pollack contends that OFAC is “interfering with Mr. Maduro’s ability to retain counsel” and violating his Sixth Amendment right to counsel of his choice—a fundamental protection under the U.S. Constitution.

The defense team has requested that OFAC reinstate the original license but has reportedly received no response. Pollack’s letter indicated that if OFAC fails to act or denies the request, Maduro will file a formal motion seeking relief from the court in the coming days.

The charges against Maduro are substantial. He faces counts of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. His wife, Flores, faces three similar charges but is not charged with narco-terrorism.

The January 3 operation that led to Maduro’s capture marked a dramatic escalation in U.S. efforts to hold the Venezuelan leader accountable for alleged criminal activities. After his arrest in Caracas, Maduro was flown directly to New York, where he is currently being held in a federal detention facility.

The case has significant geopolitical implications. For years, U.S. officials have accused Maduro’s regime of facilitating drug trafficking through what they call the “Cartel of the Suns,” allegedly run by high-ranking Venezuelan military officials. The Trump administration has taken a particularly hardline stance against the Maduro regime, which it has long refused to recognize as Venezuela’s legitimate government.

The Treasury Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York have not publicly responded to inquiries about the funding restrictions outlined in Pollack’s letter.

This legal battle over defense funding highlights the complex intersection of international sanctions, constitutional rights, and high-profile prosecutions in cases involving foreign leaders. As the case proceeds, it will likely continue to draw attention to U.S. policy toward Venezuela and raise questions about the balance between national security interests and defendants’ rights in the American legal system.